Labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland
Ireland: Labour force by educational attainment level was 2,934 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
2,934 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
26th
of 47 countries
All-time high
2,934 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
1,297 Thousand persons
in 1985
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland is 2,934 Thousand persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland peaked at 2,934 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1,297 Thousand persons, in 1985.
Ireland ranks 26th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 1,304 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 1,306 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 1,297 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 1,306 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 1,317 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 1988 | 1,314 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 1,299 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 1,315 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 1,340 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 1,345 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 1,363 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 1,407 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 1,428 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 1,475 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 1,523 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 1,612 Thousand persons | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 1,680 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 1,740 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 1,782 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 1,835 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 1,871 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 1,916 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 2,034 Thousand persons | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 2,132 Thousand persons | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 2,331 Thousand persons | +9.4% |
| 2008 | 2,351 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 2,299 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 2,245 Thousand persons | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 2,223 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 2,217 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 2,238 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 2,248 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 2,273 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 2,317 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 2,342 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 2,383 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 2,432 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 2,416 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 2,573 Thousand persons | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 2,700 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2023 | 2,788 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 2,860 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 2,934 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 2,934 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,201 Thousand persons, 92% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 2,934 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,752 Thousand persons, 62% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,306 Thousand persons | 1,297 Thousand persons | 1,317 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 1,449 Thousand persons | 1,315 Thousand persons | 1,680 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,029 Thousand persons | 1,740 Thousand persons | 2,351 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,292 Thousand persons | 2,217 Thousand persons | 2,432 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,712 Thousand persons | 2,416 Thousand persons | 2,934 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland?
- Labour force by educational attainment level in Ireland was 2,934 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 2,934 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest labour force by educational attainment level recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,297 Thousand persons in 1985.
- How does Ireland rank for labour force by educational attainment level?
- Ireland ranks 26th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force by educational attainment level rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Labour force by educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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